Weld, Maine
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Weld is a town in Franklin County, Maine, United States. The population was 402 at the 2000 census.
[edit] Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 163.2 km² (63.0 mi²). 154.4 km² (59.6 mi²) of it is land and 8.8 km² (3.4 mi²) of it (5.38%) is water.
[edit] Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there were 402 people, 176 households, and 132 families residing in the town. The population density was 2.6/km² (6.7/mi²). There were 691 housing units at an average density of 4.5/km² (11.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.01% White, and 1.99% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.50% of the population.
There were 176 households out of which 29.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.1% were married couples living together, 3.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.0% were non-families. 21.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.60.
In the town the population was spread out with 20.6% under the age of 18, 2.0% from 18 to 24, 29.1% from 25 to 44, 31.1% from 45 to 64, and 17.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 112.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.6 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $37,250, and the median income for a family was $41,250. Males had a median income of $27,708 versus $21,875 for females. The per capita income for the town was $17,796. About 14.1% of families and 14.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.8% of those under age 18 and 13.0% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Attractions
While Weld's yearly population remains small, in the summer it balloons with an influx of tourists and campers, most of whom come to Weld every summer as part of a tradition. The area is popular for its secluded and old-country atmosphere. Most of these seasonal visitors stay at the various camps situated on Webb Lake, especially Dummer's Beach (which provides lakefront spaces for campers and tents alike), and Camp Kawanhee, a summercamp for boys.
Also unique in Weld is the family-owned and operated Weld Dump, an old-fashioned waste disposal facility where residents can bring their waste for proper storage and termination. Until recently, this place was also known to simply discard waste in a large pit behind the Dump, where tourists would often visit to scrounge for valuables like lawn chairs and appliances, or possibly catch site of the famous American Black Bear which would also scrounge the area, searching for food. This establishment has, in recent years, taken precautions to ensure that waste is properly disposed of.
